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The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation is seeking an Associate Network Officer to manage existing relationships and identify new ones in specific parts of the South, and grow into administering related grants portfolios.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of the change the region so urgently needs right now. America is in a pivotal moment, and the South has always played an outsized role in the direction the country takes, for better or for worse. Structural racism and other forms of discrimination are major barriers to an equitable, inclusive and more democratic region. Political control remains too concentrated in the hands of a wealthy few. Disinvestment in public goods has eroded the framework people need to get ahead. The economy too often relies on short-term behavior that hurts low-wealth people, communities and the environment.

History tells us people working collaboratively and in networked ways have the ability to disrupt those power dynamics, and the communities most affected by oppression are best positioned to dismantle it. In building our board and staff, MRBF places high value on a broad diversity of race, gender, class, sexual orientation and ability.

The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to continuous learning, with a dedication in particular to understanding history, context, current events, lessons from our partners and opportunities for change. We believe people’s experiences – joys and triumphs, challenges and adversity – offer wisdom and shape perspectives, which are important contributions to an organization’s culture and work. This person will have excellent interpersonal skills – a natural relationship builder who recognizes the difficulty inherent in social justice work while maintaining optimism and embracing the importance of camaraderie, humor and humility. The Associate Network Officer will be a member of the program team, a highly collaborative and responsive group that studies context and opportunities to inform grantmaking and strategies.

This is an exciting time to work at the Foundation. New board and staff members are bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to the work. The team is working to instill a clearer commitment to racial equity and more collaborative decision-making processes. The Foundation welcomes an associate who thinks creatively to help us be the best philanthropic partner we can be.

The Foundation

The Babcock Foundation’s mission is helping people and places move out of poverty and achieve greater social and economic justice. We serve an 11-state footprint, supporting organizations and networks advancing economic opportunity, increasing civic engagementand advocating for more supportive policies.

The Foundation fosters honest, respectful, supportive relationshipswith our grantee partners, strives to learn deeplyfrom them and share those lessons broadly. We emphasize a clear focus on place, understanding the sociopolitical context varies from town to town, state to state. We employ multiple, layered strategies,investing in multiple organizations and networks with general support funding over time, andengage with multiple tools, wielding our reputation in service of our mission and carefully considering how we invest our financial assets. The Foundation seeks to support networks, understanding social change is more likely when people and organizations bring mutually reinforcing strategies, capacities and perspectives.

Commitment to Racial Equity

Addressing the pervasive harm racism has inflicted demands organizations examine everything they do with an explicit analysis of how race and power operate, and how our interventions can advance opportunity and justice for everyone in the region. Today the Babcock Foundation is learning to center this analysis in all our work. The board and staff are delving into the history omitted from schoolbooks and analyzing how it continues to exacerbate wealth inequality and disenfranchise people. We are collecting new data about the organizations we support and the communities they serve so we can become better partners. We are also examining internal policies, from hiring to investing, how we talk about our work, the vendors we hire, and the hotels and restaurants we patronize.

The Position

Develop the Foundation’s relationships in specified states and regions to identify grantmaking opportunities.

Nurture funding partnerships and networks one-on-one as well as at conferences and other professional activities to advance MRBF’s priorities.

Review grant proposals, conduct due diligence, write and present recommendations to the board.

Stay abreast of the philanthropic field and the shifting economic, political and social context.

Build strong relationships with fellow team members to advance learning, shared support and effective collaboration.

Contribute to a transparent and equitable organizational culture where ethical policies and practices are understood and lived out by all staff.

Monitor grants for technical assistance needs, impact and lessons.

Research, write and present occasional papers for the program team and board.

Contribute as needed to external Foundation communications.

Help plan and implement resources and activities such as convenings, technical assistance, peer networks and directories.

Qualifications

Commitment to the mission and values of the Foundation, with a willingness to learn proactively about racial equity and integrate it into all aspects of the work

Undergraduate degree required.

4+ years of nonprofit, grantmaking or other experience related to the Foundation’s priorities

Experience working with and accountable to low-wealth people and communities of color in the South

Respect for the dignity and abilities of all people

Experience building relationships and fostering alliances to accomplish goals

Experience with and trust in collegial decision making, coupled with the ability to work independently, flexibly and with good humor

Keen analytical skills with the ability to learn and synthesize new information quickly while using instinct and intuition effectively

Ability to handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines; ability to pay attention to accuracy and detail while thinking broadly

Excellent written and oral communications skills

Commitment to the Southeastern United States

Ability to drive and travel about 30 percent of the time

Additional Information

The Associate Network Officer is supervised by the Senior Network Officer. This is a full-time position based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a generous benefits package and an annual salary range of $52,000 to $60,000. The Foundation will contribute to relocation expenses. We look forward to receiving applications from a diverse pool of candidates. The Babcock Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a diverse staff.

To ensure the Foundation finds the most qualified candidate, the hiring committee will review applications every two weeks, beginning October 4, 2019.